Majority Support Rules For Airbnb in Toronto

Toronto, June 27th
– In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 1040 Toronto
voters, the majority (59%) support the regulation of Airbnb in Toronto, which
is up 12 points since March (March 16: 47%). A quarter (24%) say Airbnb should
not be regulated, up 4 points (March 16: 20%), while fewer than 2 in 10 (17%)
say they don’t know, which is down 16 points (March 16: 33%).

Amongst users of the
service, the majority is slightly smaller (52%), up 11 points (March 16: 42%),
while just over 4 in 10 (41%) are opposed to regulation, up 3 points (March 16:
38%).

Amongst non-users,
the proportion of those supporting regulation is much higher (61%), up 13
points (March 16: 48%), while fewer than 2 in 10 (19%) say they are not in
favour of regulation, up 3 points (March 16: 19%). Less than a quarter (20%)
say they do not know if the service should be regulated.

Almost half approve of limiting Airbnb rentals to primary
residence only

Just under half (48%)
of respondents say that they approve of the city limiting Airbnb rentals to a
person’s primary residence only, while just under a third (31%) disapprove of
the proposal. Fewer than one quarter (21%) say they do not know.

Users of the service are
more likely to disapprove (53%) of these limits than the general public, with 4
in 10 (40%) they would approve. Only (7%) of users do not know whether they
approve.

Amongst non-users,
support is much higher, with half (50%) saying they approve of limiting
short-term rentals to a person’s primary residence, with only a quarter (25%)
saying they disapprove, and a quarter (24%) saying they do not know

The majority approve of registration for Airbnb landlords

More than half (57%)
say they approve of the city’s proposal that anyone wishing to offer their home
for short-term rental should be registered, while fewer than one third (29%) disapprove.
A small proportion (14%) say they do not know.

Amongst users there
is a statistical tie in support for registration, with just under half (48%)
saying they approve of the registration plan, while (45%) disapprove. Only (7%)
say they do not know.

Amongst non-users,
almost two-thirds (60%) say they approve of a registration system for Airbnb
landlords, while only a quarter (25%) say they disapprove. (16%) say they do
not know.

“Overall, Toronto
residents are pleased with the proposed plans to regulate short-term rental
services such as Airbnb in the city,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of
Forum Research. “People who use Airbnb are slightly less likely to approve of
these reforms than people who don’t, but the people who use it are still vastly
outnumbered by the people who don’t.”

Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.